Switching device



Nov. 1, 1927. v

` v E. w. GENT SWITCHING DEVICE Filed June 20. 1921 mwmx/Q/g ma www www@ @www @www www@ @www Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

`,uNlTiszD@/s'lnarisA PA'IiLhVII OFFICE."

EDGAR WJGRNT, orivioRRIsToWN, lNRW JERSEY, AssiGNOR'TO WESTERN ELECTRIC y OOMPANY,INOOR1 ORATRD, ORNEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NRW YORK.

svviToRINci DEVICE.

` `'y,Appliman` med Jane' 20,192i. serial Nd. 479,0'157.

This ,invention relates in/general to `switching devices and more particularly to a relay of the multi-'contact type.

`In various signaling circuits and also in automatic telephone circuits, conditions at times are suoli as Vtofnecessitate Closing a large number yof -contacts simultaneously, andit is an object of the present invention to provide a relay which will economically and satisfactorily meet such conditions. It is a further object of the invention to prol vide a relay of this type in which adjust- `ment of the contact springs can be quickly made and such adjustment maintained under service conditions.

To attain these objects and in accordance i with a feature oft-he invention, there is provided a relay inwhich a plurality of contact springs are operated simultaneously by a plate or bar which may be under the control of an electromagnet.`

In accordance with another feature of the invention there is provided a second plate in which are slots to receive the contact' springs aga-inst which such springs are tensioned.

These and other features of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying` drawing in which Figs. 1 and 2 are front elevation and side elevation views respectively, of a type of relay ernbodying the features of this invention; Fig. 3 is a` view in perspective of a pair of con'- tact wires showing the position when engaged; and Fig. l is an end view of the contact springs'in engagement. y

Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed an electromagnet 5 h'avinga core 6, and a pair of side plates 7 7, which are formed as shown and clamped rigidly to the core 6 by means of screw 8 and nut 9. By

g means of clan'iping screws 10, 10, a plurality of contact banks are securely clamped between the upper portions of the side plates 7, 7. Each of these sections, of which there are seven in the design illustrated, consists plates'and held inposition byjineans of the it screws 14, is a plate v1,5 of insulatingmaterial, preferably micarta. This plate is pro vided with triangular openings 16, 16 which permit the contact wires 11 and 12 tofbe readily' threaded therethrough. A' Vsecond plate 'member 17,.'which is also preferably' of micarta or similar' insulating material, is supported upon a spring 18 and is provided with triangular openings 19, through which the free ends ofthe contact wires may be readily threaded. The lower,` portion of plate member 17 is provided `with meta-l plates 20, V2O, which are riveted' thereto, and these plates are provided with an Opening through which extends the curved end of armature V21 of the electromagnet 5, this armature being pivotally mounted to the side plates as'shown.

In the unoperated position, of the electromagnet, the armature 21 is held against the lower portion of stationary plate 15 by means of the spring 18, in which position the slots in the two plates are substantially in alignment. The springs 11, 11 are given slight initial upward tension against the'v plate member 15, and the spring members 12 are given a slight downward tension: against the plate member. `Upon energization of the electromagnet 5, and movement 'f its armature 21, the plate 17 is drawn downward, thus forcingthe'wires 11 into engagement with the wires 12. On account of 'the curved ends of wires 12, acertain camming effect takes place and the wires 12 are forced sideways as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, thus insuring a good wiping contact between each pair of wires. In order to eliminate the considerable side thrust that would result in case the wires were all cammed in one direction, alternate wires'12 in each section are formed in opposite directions so that the side thrust is neutralized.

In the normal "or unoperated position of the relay, the top spring or wire 11 rests against the upper surface of the slot in the stationary plate 15, and thebottom spring or wire 12 rests with some tension on the bottom ofthe slot in the stationary plate so that when the armature is operated, the contact end of the top wire moves about its point of contact on the movable plate, and the contact end of the bottom wire 12 moves about its point of contact on the stationary plate, thus providing the equivalent of short wires parallelism ni the wiresl that might exist-k after the molding operation.

For the purpose ot mounting the relayin position, mounting brackets22 are provided integral with the side plates 7 to permit the device being mounted upon a clamping plate of the customary type.

What is claimed is: y

1. In a switching device, a plurality of passive bare wire contacts, a platel otin- .sulating material, aplurality of active bare wire contacts extending loosely throughsaid plate for cooperation with said passive contacts, and means for moving said plate to 'cause engagement between the active and passive contacts.

2. In a switching device, a set of contact springs, a second set of contact'springs having their free endsrforme'd tov engage said iirst set ot springs, a stationary plate of insulating material `rhaving `apertures therein, said contact springs being loosely disposed in said apertures to allow relative movement therein, a second plateo'f insulating material having similar apertures through which the springs extend, said apertures being in alignment normally in both plates, and means for causing relative movement between the plates to force the iirst set ot contact springs into engagement Vwith the second set of contact springs. Y

3. In a switching device, a set ot contact springs, a second set ot contact springs having their end portions formed to engage the tree ends `Qi said iirst springs, a` stationary plate of insulating material having apertures therein through each ot which a pairvoi'A said springs extend and against the surface" ot which they are tensioned, a movable plate ot insulating material having apertures'therein `similar to and normally in alignment with the apertures in said stationary plate, and means 'for causing the movement ci said movable plate to torce the springs ot each pairv into engagement.

4. In a switching device, a 'contact bank, a plurality of contact springs rigidly secured therein, alternate springs having their tree ends formed in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis ot the spring, a stationary plate of insulating material having apertures therein, said contactsprings being loosely disposed in said apertures to allow relative movement therein, a second insulating plate having cam shaped'apertures therein norinally in alignmentwiththe apertures in said `first plate, and means for causing the movement of said second plate to torce alternate pairs oi' rContact springs into engagement,

5.5In a switching device, a plunality of contact banks, means for 'clamping said banks into a unitary structure, a plurality ot contact 'springs secured in each of said banks, alternate springs in each' bank having their free ends formed in a plane substantiallyat 'right angles to "the aXis oi' the spring," a stationary plate o'fjinsulating material having Aapertures therein, said contact springs being loosely disposed in said apertures 'to allow-relative movement therein, la second'insulating plate having apertures therein normally in alignment with the yap- 'ertures' in saidptrs't plate, and means for causing the movement of said second plate to torce alternate pairs of Contact springs into engagement.

6. In a switching device, a plurality of-con- 'tact banks, means for rigidly securing lsaid banks, a plurality of sets of contact springs in each oit said banks, alternate springs having their tree ends formed substantially as shown to permit engagement with the other spring of said set, means for supporting the tree ends oi said springs under tension a given position, a slid'able plate adapted to engage one spring of each set, and electromagnetic means Vfor causing the 'movement oi said-plate whereby the springs ot' veach set of contacts are forced into engagement.V

7. In a switching device, a plurality of passive bare wire contacts, Va plurality of active bare vwire cont-acts for cooperating respectively lwith said passive contacts, a slidable plate oi insulating material having apertures therein through which said active contacts'pro] ect, and means for moving .said plate to `cause engagement between the active and passive contacts, said passive contacts being'so formed as to cause a-rubbing action when engaged by the active contacts.

8. In a switching device, a plurali-ty of bare wire'contacts, a plate ot insulating Inaterial having apertures therein, a plurality oi second bare wire contacts extending through the apertures insaid plate and capable ot movement relative to said plate for cooperation with said `irstanentioned contacts, and means for causing a sliding movement of said plate to cause engagement between said rst 'and secon-d contacts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th 'day of J une, A. D., 1921..

EDGAR W. GENT 

